VigilantHalo
3D/AR training for a sensor-fusion platform. Knowledge retention went up 80%.
- role
- Product Designer
- skills
- Learning Design, Prototyping, VR/AR Design, 3D Design
- with
- Greg Thibeault, Daniel Sink, Cheyenne Gold, and David Miller
outcome
Improved knowledge retention by 80%, enabled the sales team to communicate value more effectively, and delivered a scalable training framework for future use.
challenge
VigilantHalo is an advanced RF and sensor-fusion platform for mission-critical air traffic environments. Despite powerful capabilities, early sales efforts struggled because only engineers understood it. Business development teams lacked tools to explain or demo it, resulting in lost opportunities and low adoption. A Unity-based prototype visualizer existed but was limited to two iPads and was unusable in real-world engagements.
user research
At the beginning of the project there was no dedicated business development point of contact, so I gathered insights directly from engineers who attended sales meetings and industry events.
When a specialist joined mid-project, I refined the training focus based on his input. A consistent pain point emerged: people struggled to see how all the moving parts of the system fit together. This became the guiding theme for the training experience.
Three core principles anchored every design decision:
- Clarity over complexity — 3D can get overwhelming fast; visuals needed to be clean and focused.
- Anchored learning points — users need to connect information to what they're seeing.
- Progressive disclosure — information needs to be introduced gradually.
solution
After reviewing the prototype and consulting with stakeholders, I refined the outline of the visualization to highlight the truck's hardware and mission-specific scenarios, leaning toward a gamified approach to boost retention and motivation.
I'd never designed in 3D before, but I threw myself into researching 3D software, design mechanics, and smarter workflows. After exploring a handful of platforms, I chose Vectary for its no-code capabilities and its ability to deliver an immersive, responsive experience across mobile and desktop. With limited time, I pivoted from the fully gamified concept and refocused on a strong, engaging visualizer built on smart training mechanics.
I introduced dynamic camera movements, intuitive interaction patterns, and clear navigation structures to make exploration feel natural and rewarding — principles aligned with Nielsen Norman Group's usability heuristics around aesthetic and minimalist design, and user control. Much of the 3D had to be rebuilt after Unity corruption; where I needed a quick fix, I rebuilt smaller elements in Womp3D and transferred them into complete scenes.
For users who preferred a traditional learning method or were sensitive to motion, I created a complementary training deck that broke down system components in a linear, accessible way — a flexible asset for future product initiatives. The final training is mobile- and desktop-friendly, mixing 3D and AR capabilities.
lessons learned
The redesigned training system led to an 80% increase in retention of domain knowledge. Business development teams reported greater confidence in presenting the product and faster onboarding of new members. The solution's modular structure also positioned the team to scale and evolve the training for future needs.